Sovnarkom (Russian languageСовНарКом, the abbreviation of the phrase "Совет Народных Комиссаров", Sovet Narodnykh Komissarov", the Council of People's Commissars, sometimes Russian СНК, the SNK), was the administrative arm of the Soviet government. The 1918 Soviet Constitution made the Sovnarkom responsible to the Congress of Soviets for the "general administration of the affairs of the state." The constitution enabled the Sovnarkom to issue decrees carrying the full force of law when the congress was not in session. The congress then routinely approved these decrees at its next session. (In fact, the Sovnarkom had already exercised governmental authority of the RSFSR since November 1917 after the Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets). Sovnarkom basically retained its functions after the formation of the USSR, with much of legislative authority belonging to the Central Executive Committee.
In 1946 it was renamed into the Council of Ministers (Russian: Sovet Ministrov, or Sovmin), still headed by Stalin, together with renaming of People's Commissariats (sl.: НарКомат (NarKomat) into ministries and People's Commissars (sl.: НарКом, NarKom) into ministers.
Extraordinary sessions are convened by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R. at its discretion or on the demand of one of the Union Republics.
Article 80 The Council of Ministers of a Union Republic is responsible and accountable to the Supreme Soviet of the Union Republic, or, in the intervals between sessions of the Supreme Soviet of the Union Republic, to the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Union Republic.
Article 81 The Council of Ministers of a Union Republic issues decisions and orders on the basis and in pursuance of the laws in operation of the U.S.S.R. and of the Union Republic, and of the decisions and orders of the Council of Ministers of the U.S.S.R., and verifies their execution.
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